Apparatus for treating skins.



No. 673,l25. v Patented Apr. 30, l90|. J. F. JONES & E. S. CLEGG.APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS.

"(Application filed m 9. 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 673,|25. Patented Apr. 30, l90l.

J. F. JONES & E. s. CLEGG.

APPARA TUS FOR TREATING SKINS.

- (Application filed m 9, 1899.) (ItoJlodeL) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

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UNITED STATES ATENT QFFICE.

JOHN FREDERICK JONES, OF WANDSWORTH, AND EDWARD SEYMOUR OLEGG, OF SOUTHKENSINGTON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SKINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 673,125, dated April30, 1901;

Application filed May 9,1899. Serial No. 716,135. (No model-) To allwhom it pea/y concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN FREDERICK JONES, engineer, residing at 59Haldon Road, Wandsworth, in the county of Surrey, and EDWARD SEYMOURCLEGG, residing at 35 Drayton Gardens South, South Kensington,

.in the county of Middlesex, England, subjects of the Queen of GreatBritain, have invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for thetreatment of Hides and Skins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of hides andskins for use in the tanning, curing, or liming of the same and toapparatus for carrying out such treatment.

The chief object of our invention is to provide an apparatus in whichmay be treated a large number of skins in a thorough and efficientmanner and in much less time than has heretofore been required, whilethe liability of the skins coming in contact with each other is avoided.

According to our invention we cause the tanning or other solution orliquid to flow in a constant stream over the surfaces of the hides orskins, which are arranged side by side at a suitable distance apart. Weprovide appropriate means for directing the solution or liquid over allparts of the surfaces to be treated and for reversing or changing thepath of circulation of the solution, if desired.

In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, we will proceed to describe the same more fullywith reference to the accom panyingdrawings. It is to be understood thatthese drawings are by way of example only and that in practice theapparatus may be arranged to containa considerably larger number ofhides than are here shown.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2

a plan, of an apparatus constructed according to our invention. Fig. 3is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified-form of our invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a is a pit or tank constructed ofsuitable material. Near each end of the pit we arrange a partition d,inclosing with the false bottom 0 a space,within which the hides c areplaced. The hides are suspended from a frame I), disposed over the pit.In the said partitions we provide two sets of aperturesfand g, three ofeach set being arranged, in the example shown, between adjacent hidesand between the outside hides and the side walls of the pit. It isobvious, however,that any suitable number and arrangement of the saidapertures may be employed. The apertures f are provided with funnels 71,having elongated flattened mouths, tubes, or other conduit-s forspreading the liquid forced therethrough. The apertures g are providedwith valves, such as the clacks k, by which the passage of liquid fromthe outside to the inside of the partitions through such apertures maybe prevented. In the space between the false bottom e and the actualbottom of the pit we form a channel m, in which We arrange ascrew-propeller Z or a pump, paddle, or other means for compelling theliquid to pass through said channel in one or the other direction. Itwill be observed that the middle of this channel is of circular shape incross-section, so as to fit the propeller, and that said channel isreduced in depth while being increased in width (as indicated by thedotted lines in Fig. 2) toward its ends, so as to distribute the liquiduniformly along the width of the channels or passages formed between thepartitions (1 and the ends of the pit. Aperturesr are formed in thefalse bottom e, affording communication between the channel m and thereceptacle for the hides. These apertures are provided with valves q,similar to the clacks 70, but disposed upon the receptacle side of theapertures. These valves qare preferably adapted to be maintained in araised position by adjustable means, so that the quantityof liquidpassing through the apertures r may be regulated. 'n is a heating orcooling coil for maintaining the liquid at any required temperature. Thepit is adapted to be filled with liquid up to such a height as to nearlyor completely submerge the hides suspended therein. The actuation of thepropeller will then produce a circulation of the liquid, causing it topass through the channel m-say from left to right -as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 1. The clacks is will the hides in such a manner as notonly to be distributed over the whole surfaces thereof,

but also to maintain such hides in position and prevent their comingtogether or adhering at portions of their surfaces, and therebyhindering the action of the liquid upon such portions. The liquid willalso pass up through the aperturesr, and thus serve to prevent theaccumulation of sediment or layers of the liquid having increaseddensity at the bottom of the receptacle. The liquid will not readilypass through the funnels in the opposite direction, and consequently theslacks over the apertures g in the partition at the leftby the liquid,as shown in Fig. 1, the liquid flowing through said apertures and beingagain drawn through the channel by' the propeller Z. We sometimesprovide means for fixing the clacks 7c of those apertures 9 throughwhich the liquid is flowing in any desired position, so as to check theflow of liquid through such ap rtures. We may, however, dispense withthe apertures g and so form the funnels 77. that the liquid will readilypass through themin eitherdirec'tidn. If desired, the channels orassages formed between the partitions d and the' ends of the to enablethe force or velocity of the circulating liquid to be increased. The howof liquid may also be regulated by adjustable valves disposed over theapertures f.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3'the artitions-d and their aperturesare dispensed with, and instead thereof w snip-icy vortically-ar'rangedtubes or headers o, forming section. These tubesare closed or partiallyclosed at the top and are perforated at the sides or surfaces adjacentto the hides, some or all of the apertures being preferably soarange-das to direct the liquid delivered therefrom toward the center of thepit.

the example illustrated three such tubes, of different lengths orheights, are arranged on each side of the pit between adjacent hides andbetween the outside hides and the side Walls of the pit. The nungber oftubesand their lengths and arrangement may, however, be varied. Thechannel on is sitnilar in shape to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.Apertures 1, provided with valves q, are provided in the false bottom ina manner similar to that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Inorder that the shortest of thetu'beso that are toward the sideof thetank may receive a stream of liquid equal to that received by the othertubes, we may provide the lower end of such tubes with a flaringextension p, bent and directed towardthe cylindrical part of the channelin which the propellerl works, or We may effect this object by means ofsuitably-disposed baffle-plates.

It will be readily understood that when the propeller is actuated theliquid will be caused to flow past the same and rise in the tubes 0 atone end or side of the pit, from which tubes it will be projectedthrough the apertures therein onto the surfaces of the hides. Aftertraversing such surfaces the liquid will enter the tubes 0 at theopposite end of the pit and be again drawn through the channel m by theropeller.- It will also be seen that in both of the forms of onrinvention illustrated L the direction of the circulatidn (if the liquidj can be reversed by merely reversing the direction of rotation of thepropeller.

hand end of thetank areautouiatically opened 5 It is obvious thatinstead of causing the liquid to now over the surfaces of the hides in ahor'izolital direction we sta so arrange the apparatus as to cause theliquid to flow vertically or at any inclination over' sdchsurfaces,either upward or downward.-

The circulationmay sometimes be effected partly by gravity, there beinga reservoir above the pitto which liquid is-ptiniped from a channel orhollow at the bottom of the pit, thesaid reservoir-com inumoatingfwithspreadiiig channels, troughs, or funnels arranged above, at the side orend of, or between the 'j hides. pit may be closedat their upper ends,so as I Wear-o aware that the treatment of hides means have sometimesbeen used for agitating the tanning or other liquid to expedite theprocess by brir'rging'fre'sh portioi-isof the liquid into contact- Withthe surfaces; of the & hides. only partially effective, hecaiirse" theliquid }isonly disturbed and is not circulated and jdistributod throughconduits, as in ouri npassages for the liquid, which tubesniay'conveniently be of circularo'r oval shape in orossi and is liableto bring them into contact with 3 each other, SO that they adhere 0V6!portions Such agitation, however,- is not or is proved method. Moreover,it possesses the of their surfaces render the treatment defective. Ourinvention obviates this dis 1 advantage. v Tlieap-en tures are alsoarranged to spread the liquid, so as to direct it to all parts" of thehides. .In

What we claim 1. In apparatus for the treatment of hides and skinsthecombination with a receptacle for the-hides and the liquid with whichsaid hides are to be treated, and for circulating said liquid comprisingchannels and a liqiiid=propelling device, of means such as nozzle-s fordi re'ctingthe liquid between adjacent hides, substantially asdescribed.

2. Apparatus for the treatmen of hides and skins comprising a receptaclefor the liquid with which said hides are to be treated, urea-us forsuspending the hides therein from the upper part of said receptacle,channels connected with said receptacle through which liquid may bedrawn or propelled, nozzles projecting interiorly from the walls of thereceptacle and. communicating with the said channels, and means forcausing the liquid to pass through said channels and nozzles,substantially as described.

3. Apparatus for the treatment of hides and skins comprising areceptacle for the hides and the liquid with which said hides are to betreated, channels communicating with said receptacles at each of theirextremities, a valve at that end of each channel through which theliquid enters the channel, a nozzle at that end of each channel throughwhich the liquid passes therefrom back to the receptacle, and means forpropelling the liquid through said channels so as to circulate the same,substantially as described.

4. Apparatus for the treatment of hides and skins comprising areceptacle for the hides and the liquid with which said hides are to betreated, a channel adjacent to such receptacle, a device in such channelfor pro- JOHN FREDERICK JONES. EDWARD SEYMOUR OLEGG;

Witnesses:

H. ASHBY NORRIS, J. COLLINS.

